July 28, 2007 - "Rome-ancing the Mouse Cruisers" -11 days! Part 2

[kidcoos3]

Geez you guys - I'm behind something like 30 pages - from 1 day, what the heck??!! So, I got through the first 10 - I'll finish tomorrow

THANK YOU ALL - this is why I come here - to feel like I'm wanted for my humor and mirth (as opposed to girth )

Love this quote!!!

You must institute the "OK to cheat" rule: You each get one freebie - that is if your most highly coveted and deepest darkest celebrity showed up and wanted to madly ravish you for one night w/o repurcussions - that would be ok as long as he got one too. I would have to say that mine would have been a toss up between Robert Redford and Kiefer Sutherland. Hey - what can I say I love blondes! I had one friend who's most secret desire was Vanessa Williams.

Oh, I love Kiefer too - have for years!

Laura, my sister who travels a lot swears by Airborne . . . she takes it before the flight, on the flight, and once or twice a day as a precaution. I prefer Emergen-C, which comes in little packets you mix in water. I usually drink one before bed while on vacation, more if I feel I am coming down with something.

Andrew, my oldest daughter gets motion sickness and uses the sea bands with success. She also uses chewable ginger (the ones here are called Chimes) which has immediate stomach soothing effects.

I have used Emergen-C in the past. I also know people who swear by Airborne - maybe I'll do both??

Hi to everyone going on the Disney Magic 28th July, we have just booked yesterday and cant wait!!
Have just finished reading all your postings and its interesting to see how many holidays poeple go on!! espcially Andrew(do you ever have time for work)!! Fair play to you !!
We have never cruised with DCL before although we have stayed at Disney world Wilderness Lodges many times and are looking forward to the Disney cruise experience.
Question for Andrew
We have always had a fantastic time at Disney and find it difficult to see how this can be re created on a cruise ship, how does the quality of the entertainment and service compare to that of the parks and resorts?
If any one has any good tips( we have 2 chilren aged 11 and 8) or can recomend a good hotel in Barcelona as we fly out 2 days early it would be great to hear from you.

Paul.

Welcome!!

Well, that's it for me - need to catch up on some sleep!!

 

[Aurora1959]

Arrived in Barcelona for June 6 Med Sailing

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After 3 days in Paris and 4 days in London, where my family had a wonderful time, we finally arrived to Barcelona tonight. Right now, I am so stressed that I want to cry!

From right outside the doors of the airport, we were hassled in Spanish. I really don't know what they wanted as the only thing I could comprehand was "train" but they sure got into our personal space and was very touchy feelie. I don't know if they were trying to get us to us the "train" or perhaps a taxi...but that made me very uncomfortable.

We took the Blue Aerobus into Las Ramblas and boy, am I SORRY we did. Buying the tickets at the machine was where the nightmare began. It would not take any of our credit cards (we tried 2 different ones). We proceeded to put Euros in there and the machine would not take a 20 Euro bill. The machine only takes 5 and 10 Euros plus coins. Luckily we still had some Euros from Paris earlier in the week.

As we were waiting for the bus, this man weaved his way into the line and got between my husband and I. He got too close for my comfort and I saw that he had his eye on one of our bags. I called my husband as I was behind him and told my husband to let this man go ahead of him. I wanted this man ahead of me so I can watch him. He refused to go ahead of my husband...in fact he never boarded the bus. BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETERS.

I was stressed out and I wasn't even on the bus yet. Well, my nightmare continues...they let so many people on the bus that there was no place for luggage...not that I was going to let my luggage out of sight anyway. The Blue Aerobus was HORRIBLE, there were several different stops and there WAS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT THE STOPS WERE!!!!! The made no announcements and since the bus was so crowded and we arrived at night I was really hard to see anything especially the signs. The bus driver was absolutely no help at all.

We finally got of the bus at what we believed to be Plaza Catalunya and had absoultely no idea where the heck we were suppose to go. In all the pictures I've seen and all the research I have done on the internet, it seem very straightforward that Plaza Catalunya is right on Las Ramblas. We'll at night it is not straightforward at all. We asked two Blue Aerobus drivers and they were not helpful at all. We then decided to take a taxi and the taxi drivers were not very nice or helpful to us because they said our party had too much luggage. One taxi drivers finally pointed us in the right direction and we finally walked to to hotel.

I can not recommend the Blue Aerobus to get into town. Although the fare was 3.90 Euro per person, I will gladly pay for a taxi next time.

I am so sad and disappointed right now. I heard the this city is suppose to be a beautiful city but right now I really have a bad taste in my mouth. I just want to cry for the next 3 days until we board the Disney Magic.


Food for thought!

Thanks for posting this story, although I must say it doesn't surprise me one bit. I have been trying to explain to my family that 'personal space' isn't common around the world. My experience has been that while you will find a lot of places just fine, there are those that prey on the tourists. Everything I have been reading on the various places we will be visiting, have warned about these sort of tactics. The man wanting to be between her and her husband is just one simple tactic. I think she did the right thing by being vigilant and offering to let him go ahead.

Remember to never let your guard down, always keep an eye on your valuables. Especially your children, and your bags.

Just something that I have thought of, that might help some of you. My husband happens to be tall, and we will have a notebook backpack with us. My thought is to have him wear this bag, so that it will be higher up and more visible. Then, I will always be standing behind him. Our sons will be between us. The boys, get all the luggage. And I get all the paperwork. This is the normal formation we take when we go through any airport. When going through Security checkpoints we empty our pockets, etc, then he walks through the metal detectors before i allow the items to be sent through. He then stands at the other end until I get through. Something i wont do until I have sent everything through. This is easy as i take my time getting everything out of my pockets, and checking them twice. I realize this is a lot of forethought, and could be seen as over worrying. But, I would rather take a few extra steps than be taken.

 

[Aurora1959]

I was trying to catch up earlier, but I left off on page 359, I may not catch up until tomorrow.

 

[Aurora1959]

very funny. I think you should do the honorable thing and just step aside and give it to the novice.

LOL that was a nice try.

ok post away

I did not mean to do this

Everyone this is Islandmoms pirate

You really do have impeccable timing.

 

[Aurora1959]

You must institute the "OK to cheat" rule: You each get one freebie - that is if your most highly coveted and deepest darkest celebrity showed up and wanted to madly ravish you for one night w/o repurcussions - that would be ok as long as he got one too. I would have to say that mine would have been a toss up between Robert Redford and Kiefer Sutherland. Hey - what can I say I love blondes! I had one friend who's most secret desire was Vanessa Williams.

I'm liking this idea. now if I could just get some of those chocolates from Fred and George.

 

[Aurora1959]

We are in mid essex halfway between colchester and chelmsford and witham and maldon! Spend every weekend driving all over county for sports fixtures so it's just as well we're in the middle really!
love reading everyone's posts (lurking ), just not very good at posting myself, but will try to contribute a bit more!!!
It's going to be fun putting faces to disboards ids and personalities to disboards personas!
Can't wait

You gotta just jump in there, then you can go from "earning your ears" to being a mouseketeer.

 

[Aurora1959]

so who got the ?

Oh No - Another for you.

Congrats. Doesn't that give you like 20 by now?


As a Pirate mini-lord, I say we have to vote Helen as Pirate King.

 

[Aurora1959]

Hey, the tag fairy got me. Very funny! It made me laugh out loud...thank you, always a good thing.
penny

The tag fairy is great. Congrats.

 

[Aurora1959]

What does the elbow do with the hand ??????

Congrats.

I think the 100 posts between 5400 and 5500 were nothing but what you guys are calling 'Brit Chat'

 

[Aurora1959]

Missed by one again anyway 7,900 posts.

Congratulations on 7900 posts.

Although it wasn't all that hard now was it?

 

[Aurora1959]

Sounds like you need another computer....

(Actually, the real reason for this comment is that I'm actually laughing at my own situation - computers in my house outnumber people by a substantial margin)

You too? I can't argue though, he had a computer before he had me. And we met 14 years ago.

if we add them up, the computers out number us by at least 2 to 1. Sad really.

 

[Aurora1959]

I think that is being too harsh.........cuddles to Helen..........come on everyone....cuddles to Helen............

Helen - we still love you.
​

 

[Aurora1959]

Not that I'm one to say I told you so but just look at my tag... I posted this over a year ago



But then I'm such you'r not bovvered

Oh my the BRITS are back in town

Welcome back Helen and Andrew I held the fort for you two pirates and lots of new recruits. Hope you found my summaries I was going to Pm the post numbers to you but we've had a bit of a family crisis in the last couple of days.

Ok Andrew if you're admitting to being an Essex boy I'll own up too. We may live in hampshire now(please read in the snottyish British accent you can muster) but I'm a sarf London Girl at heart

Fulham, Streatham, Mitcham and Forest Hill way before they were yuppyised

OK you guys - I have to know, because i just don't get it, what's up with Essex? You guys are making it sound like it's bad.

 

[Aurora1959]

Introducing........ Isabella( Izzie) and Mia Phelan!!!

They are so adorable. Congrats on being a new mommy.

 

[Aurora1959]

YES!

actually wouldn't it be fun to have a tee shirt made up with everyone's tags quoted on it

That would be cute.

 

[MrsJobba1]

Evidently, the British tradition of drinking tea is still popular............

I hate even the smell of tea



I only drink decaf coffee or hot choc

 

[MrsJobba1]

Joann I think she may have gone to bed now plenty of time to get ahead!

Night Night

Hey not fair two onto one

 

[MrsJobba1]

We should forget the individual pirates and just start a list of USA vs. GB!

But we are all one world - we should just love each other

ok forget that
- your on

Not sure about the Brit v USA ratio?

 

[MrsJobba1]

Helen - we still love you.
​

Thank you

 

[MrsJobba1]

Oh No - Another for you.

Congrats. Doesn't that give you like 20 by now?


As a Pirate mini-lord, I say we have to vote Helen as Pirate King.

Thankyou